Mine car



Apri| 26, 1932. w. D. HOCKENSMITH. JR 1,855,239

MINE CAR Filed Aug. 20, 1930 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IL if! pwe tows/W ga April 26, 1932- w. D. HOCKENSMITH. JR

MINE CAR Filed Aug. 20, 3 Sheets-Sheet April 1932- w. D. HOCKENSMITH. JR 1,855,239

MINE CAR Filed Aug. 20, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR W Patented Apr. 26, 1932 PATENT? OFFICE WILBUR D. HQCKENSMITH, JR., F IRWIN, PENNSYLVANIA MINE GAR Application filed August 20, 1930. Serial No. 476,507.

This invention relates to mine cars and more particularly toan improved type of car construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a 1i mine car that will be sturdy and stand the shocks incurred in usage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mine car in which the side walls are supported directly on, the axles of the car.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mine car in which the reinforcing belts or hands are eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to'provide a mine car for rotary dumps having an angle lengthwise of the car which braces the car and also forms a means for dumping.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mine car in which the axles extend the entire width of the car with bearings thereon for supporting the side walls of the car.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mine car, the body of which is free from pockets and other obstructions and from which the coal is readily discharged.

These and other objects of this invention, which are readily apparent to those skilled in this particular art, I attain by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mine car embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said mine car;

Fig. 3 is a partial View in section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1';

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the car;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the car shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the wheel houslng Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the plate closing the ends of the housing;

Fig. 9 is a View in elevation of a modification;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line XX of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 9

Fig. 12 is a front end view of the car shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the car shown in Fig. 9, showing the wheel housing;

Fig. 1A is a partial view in perspective showing the end chute plates for the wheel housing; I

Fig. 15 is a partial view in perspective of a modification of the wheel housing chute plate; and

Fig. 16 is a partial view in perspective of a modification in which two wheel housings are employed.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a mine car having a bottom 1 comprising planks 2 which extend the full length of the car. The floor is reinforced by Z bars 3 which extend between the planks 2. The flanges of the Z bars are received in slots 4 cut in the planks 2. The planks extend slightly beyond the ends of the car forming bumpers for the car, which will be hereinafter explained. Extending across the top of the floor are U-shaped 7 housings 5 having laterally extending flanges 6, from which the floor is suspended by bolts 7. Axles 8 having wheels 9 ournaled thereon extend through the housing 5. The ends 10 of the axles extend beyond the wheels 9, the purpose of which will be explained later. The axle 8 may be stationary in the housing, or bearings may be placed on the interior of the housing so that the axle will turn with the wheels.

A draw bar 11, which is countersunk inthe center plank, extends the full length of the car and has drawbar members 12 riveted to the ends thereof for receiving the usual cou pling links. The member 12 is provided with an opening 13 to receive the usual coupling pin, which is also received in an opening (not shown) in a bumper 14, which is formed on the extended ends of the planks 2. The bumper comprises a block 15 supported on the ends of the floor planks. The bumper is protected by a metal cover 17 which prevents the wooden, members from being battered by the bumping action between the cars. mo

Plates 18 are bolted in grooves in the floor 1 on each side of the wheels 9 and form side floors 19 for the car. The plates 18 have flanges 20 which forms a portion of the side walls of the car. Wheel housings 21 which are substantially Z-shaped are provided for the central portion of the car between the side floors 19. The housing 21 has a portion 22 extending perpendicular to the floor 1 which is provided with a flange 23 adapted to extend under the floor and to be bolted thereto, a portion 24 of the housing 21 extends out wardly from the portion 22 at an angle thereto. The degree of the angle depending on the size of the wheels desired to be used on the car. The portion 24 terminates in a downwardly projecting portion 25 which abuts the flanges 20 on the side floors 18 and forms a continuous flange extending the entire length of the car. The lower half of an angle iron 26 is riveted to the flange formed by the portions 20 and 25 and is so positioned on the flange that the lower edge of the angle is slightly above the ends of the axles. A plate 27 extending the full length of the car is riveted to the upper half of the angle 26 and forms a side wall for the car. The side wall 27 may have a gate 28 fastened thereto with hinges 29. If a gate is desired, plates 30 are riveted to the side wall 27 which support the gate when the car is loaded.

The angle 26 performs the double function of bracing the car and forming a means for supporting the car in a rotary dump. For

7 that reason the lower portion 31 of the angle 26 is in the shape of a bulb which is designed to bear against the axles 10 when the car is loaded. The side walls are therefore supported directly on the axles and sagging which is common in the usual car, is prevented. Auxiliary bearings 32 may be securedto the bulb portion 31 by angle irons 33 which are riveted to the angle 26 and form journals for the ends of the axles. While I have shown a wooden auxiliary bearing it is readily understood that the bearing may be made of any'suitable material such as metal, as well as wood.

The upper portion 34 of the angle 26 projects outwardly from the side of the car and forms a means for holding the car in a rotary dump. In cases where the dump mechanism does not require any means on the side of the car to hold the car therein a bar (not shown) may be substituted for the angle 26.

The ends of the car shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are formed of flat plates 35 riveted to U-shaped angle irons 36 to which the plate 27, the flanges 20, the angle 26 and the side floors 19 are also riveted making a solid boxlike body for the car. The plates 35 are reinforced by angles 37 extending across the end of the car.

To prevent coal from flowing out of the car around the housing 21, Z-shaped plates 38 are provided to close the opening between the walls of the housing and the side floors and side walls of the cars. The plate 38 has oppositely extending flanges 39 and 40 on the top and bottom thereof which are adapted to be riveted to the portion 24 of the housing and the side floors 19 respectively. The plate 38 is tapered and the flange 39 is adapted to fit underneath the portion 24. The plate 38 is further secured to the car by angle irons 41 and 42. The angle 41 is placed outside the car and is riveted to the inner edge of the plate 38 and to the portion 22 of the housing. The angle 42 is placed inside the car and secures the outer edge of the plate to the flange 20 on the side floor 19. V

A double wheel housing as shown in Fig.

16 may be substituted for the wheel housing already described. Such housings are especially desirable in the construction of cars having an extra long wheel base s1nce the capacity of the car is substantially increased- In the modification illustrated in F 1g. 16'

a housing is provided for each wheel instead of a single housing for both wheels on the same side of the car. Each of the double housings comprise a Z-shaped plate 22 which is exactly similar to the Z-shaped housing 22 already described. The ends of the housings are closed by a plate 38 similar to plate 38 and which is retained in place by flanges and angles as heretofore explained. The only difference in construction between a car having a double housing and one having a single housing is that the plate 19 is placed between the double housings 22 and 22 in addition to the plates 19 on each side thereof. The plate 19 forms an additional side floor for the car and has a flange 20 on the end thereof which abuts with flanges on the Z-shaped housings and forms a flange to which the side wall of the car is riveted.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11, 1.2 and 13, I have illus trated a car of the end dump type embodying a modified form of my invention. In this modification, the side floors 50 of the car are formed from plates having flanges 51 at the outer ends thereof, which form a portion of the side wall of the cars. The side floors 50 are bolted to the top of the floor 1. A housing 52 is provided for the wheels, which is Z-shaped and has a portion 53 extending perpendicular to the floor 1. The portion 53 has a flange 54 which is adapted to fit under the floor and to be bolted thereto. The housing 52 also has a flange 55 on the outer edge which abuts against the flanges 51 and in the same vertical plane therewith. A plate 56 which extends the entire length of the car is riveted to the flanges 51 and 55 and with the flanges 51 forms the complete side wall'of the car. The top portion of the plate 56 is rolled inwardly on itself, as at 57, forming the top edge of the car. The ends of the housing 52 are closed by a plate 58 having oppositely disposed flanges 59 and 60 on the top and bottom 65 at 75 and forms a bale or lift for the gate.

front of the housing to the side walls 51.

thereof which are adapted to be riveted to the housing .52 and the side floor 50 respectively. The flange 59 extends underneath the plate 52 and the flange 60 rests on the side floor 50. The plate58 is further secured to the car by angle irons 61 and 62. Angle 61 is placed outside the car and is riveted to the portion 53 of the housing and to the plate 58, while the angle 62 is placed inside the car is riveted to the plate 58 and the side wall 51. The plates 58 are provided with rectangular shaped openings 64: adjacent the flanges 51 on the side floor 50 through which a bar 65 is extended. The lower edge of the bar 65 is slightly above the ends 10 of the axles 8, so that when the car is loaded, the bar will rest on the axles and support the side walls of the car. Auxiliary bearings (not shown) may be provided for the bar 65 to slide through and bear upon. The bar 65 is placed inside the wall 51, to which it is secured by bolts 66. Angle irons 67 riveted to the inside of the walls 51 maintain the bar in place and prevent it from shearing the bolts 66 when it is hearing against the axles 8.

The bar 65 is adapted to extend through an opening 69 in the rear end of the car so that when it is desired to remove the wheels from the car the bar 65 can be readily pulled out of the car giving free access to the wheels. The bar 65 is provided with an opening 7 0 in the end thereof which forms a means for pulling the bar from the car when the bolts 66 have been removed. If axle boxes or bearings (not shown) are provided on the ends of the axle housings the bar 65 may be riveted in place on the side walls of the car, since the wheelsmay be-readily removed by pulling the axles out of the housings.

As the bottom of a car of the end dump type must be free from pockets and obstructions that would interfere with the sliding of the coal out of the car, I have, as-shown in Figs. 14 and 15, designed two types of cover for the housing 52. In Fig. 14, a triangular plate 71 is secured to the housing 52 and slopes to the floor of the car, causing the coal to slide over the housing 52. The opening between the plate 71 and floor is covered by a triangular plate'7 2 which tends'to force the coal toward the center of the car. In Fig. 15 I have extended the plate 52 of the housing beyond the end closing plate 58. The extended portion is triangular in shape, sloping from the A plate 72 covers the opening between the side floor 50, the extended portion of housing 52 and the plate 53 and tends to cause the coal to slide around the housing, and be easily discharged from the car.

The front end of the car illustrated in Fig. 11 is closed by a gate 73 of-the usual type. The gate is secured to a triangular gusset plate 7 which is pivoted to the side wall 56 The gate has a lift member 76 which is adapted to cooperate with means associated with a dump for raising the gate and plates so that the coal may readily slide out of the car. The plate 74 has an inwardly extending flange to which the gate 73 is riveted. By placing the bar 65 inside the car, the plate 74 can fit snugly against the side of the car and does not materially increase the overall dimensions thereof. The gusset plates 74: on the end gate also prevents the sides of the car from spreading at the open end.

It is apparent that a mine car constructed in accordance with my invention is sturdy, rugged and will withstand hard usage, since the shock is taken up by the wooden bottom which extends the length of the car. The floor being suspended from the axles causes the load to be carried directly by the axles and also reduces the overall height of a car, of a given capacity making it easier to load. By having the side walls braced directly on the ends of the axles, I have eliminated the need of reinforcing belts of bands commonly used in car construction, thus reducing the cost of manufacturing and tare weight and making it possible to increase the inside width of the car andconsequently the capacity of the car considerably without increasing the overall width thereof. The bracing of the side walls directly on the axles prevents any sidewise or lengthwise sagging in the car when loaded as is common in other type cars ofexcessive width or length. The side angles or bars running lengthwise of the car not only brace the side walls but also act as a tie between the side fioor portions and the side walls of the car. i 7 From the above description, it is readily apparent that the car will be sufficiently braced and reinforced without the need of belts or bands as commonly used in cars of this type. Also, a car has been produced which has a low overall height, with given width, length, and a given capacity, making it easy to load and has a maximum capacity with a minimum width and length and a minimum overall height above the rail.

' \Vhile I- have illustrated a mine car having the side floors 19 and50 bolted to the top of the floor 1, it is readily understood that they may be bolted to the underside ofthe floor in some instances. This would increase the capacity of the car, but would lessen the clearance between the side floors and the rail. Such a construction would be especially desirable when larger than average wheels are desired. In general, each side of the body is formed with four platesone being a bent housing plate, two being side floors flanged upward at the outer edges to form part of the side wall and one long top plate extending the entire length of the body, all of which are tied together by a bulb angle or bar extending lengthwise of the car which in addition supports and braces the car.

It is readily apparent that certain other changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A mine car having axles extending the width of the car, wheels on said axles, a bottom suspended from said axles, sides plates secured to said bottom having flanges forming a portion of the side walls of said car, Z-shaped plates fastened to the under side of said bottom forming a housing for said wheels, and bulb angles extending lengthwise of said car and secured to said plates and flanges and having a bearing portion resting on the ends of said axles.

2. A mine car having axles extending the width of the car, wheels on said axle, a wooden bottom suspended from said axles, side plates fastened to said bottom and having flanges forming a portion of the side wall for said car, Z-shaped plates forming a housing for said wheels each having a flange on one end thereof for securing said plates to the bottom of the car, means for securing said plates together, means for closing the ends of said housing, and means for supporting said side Walls directly on said axles.

3. A mine car having axles extending the Width of the car, wheels mounted thereon, a bottom suspended from said axles, side plates fastened to said bottom, a Z-shaped housing for said wheels, a plate secured to said side plate and said Z plate forming the side walls of said car, and means carried by said side walls adapted to bear on the ends of said axles for supporting the load.

4. A mine car having axles extending the width of the car, wheels on said axles, a floor, side plates fastened on the top of said floor having flanges on the opposite ends, Z-shaped plates forming housings for said wheels, having flanges on the ends thereof, one of which is adapted to be fastened to said floor a side wall riveted to the flanges on said side plates and said housings, plates for closing the opening between said housings and said side plates, and bulb angles on said side walls adapted to bear on the ends of said axles for supporting the side walls of said car.

5. In a mine car, having side Walls and a floor, axles extending the full width of the car and stifl'ening members on the side walls of said car and having the bottom thereof spaced from the tops of said axles.

6. In a mine car, having side walls and a floor, axles extending substantially the full width of said car, and longitudinally extending stiffening members secured to the side walls of said car, each of said members having a rounded lower portion positioned slightly above the ends of said axles.

7 In a mine car having a floor and side walls secured thereto, wheel axles extending substantially the full width of the car and having the tops thereof above said floor, and longitudinally extending stiffening members secured to said side walls and having the bottoms thereof spaced from the tops of said axles, and out of engagement therewith.

8. In a mine car, axles extending substantially the full width of said car, a bottom suspended from said axles, side floors secured to said bottom, wheels on said axles extending through openings in said side floors, Z- shaped members covering the openings in said side floors and forming housings for said wheels, side walls secured to said side floors and said housings and stiifening members secured to said side walls slightly above the ends of said axles.

9. In a mine car, axles extending the full width of the car, a floor suspended from said axles, side walls secured to said floor, wheels journalled on said axles intermediate the ends thereof and extending through openings in said floor, hoods covering said openings and stiffening members secured to said side Walls slightly above the ends of said axles.

10. In a mine car, axles extending the full width of the car, a floor suspended from said axles, side walls secured to said floor, wheels journalled on said axles intermediate the ends thereof and extending through openings in said floor, hoods covering said open ings, and stiffening angle members secured to the side walls, said members having a lower rounded portion slightly above the ends of said axles adapted to engage the same when the car is loaded so as to prevent sagging therein.

11. In a mine car, axles extending the full width of the car, a bottom suspended from said axles, side floors extending from said bottom, wheels ournalled on said axles and extending through openings in said side floods, Z-shaped plates covering the openings in said side floors, and plates secured to said side floors and housings for forming the side Walls on said car.

12. In a mine car, the combination comprising axles extending substantially the full width of the car, a stationary lading bottom suspended from said axles below the tops thereof, wheels on said axles intermediate the ends thereof and extending through openings in said floor and side beams extending lengthwise of said car and having the bottoms thereof spaced from the tops of said axles.

13. In a mine car, the combination comprising axles extending substantially the full width of said car, a stationary lading bottom suspended from said axles below the tops thereof, wheels on said axles intermediate the ends thereof and stiffening members on the sides of said car having the bottoms thereof above the tops of said axles.

14. In a mine car having axles extending the width of the car, wheels on said axles, a bottom suspended from said axles, side walls extending upwardly from said bottom and housings covering said wheels, said housings being secured to said side walls and car bottom, and members carried by said side walls adapted to engage the ends of said axles when said car is loaded.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of July, 1980.

W. D. HOGKENSMITH, JR. 

